Chapter 162: The King’s Wrath

Conor stood by the window, his gaze cast over the city below, but his thoughts were miles away. Kerrigan was in the next room, discussing the latest developments in the trial with her inner circle. The tension in the air was palpable, and even though Kerrigan had done her best to keep him close, he felt the distance between them growing—not from each other, but from the storm they could both sense approaching.

Kerrigan had rejected the King’s proposal of marriage in front of the entire court. It had been bold, even dangerous. But she had done it with grace and poise, refusing to be bound to a man who saw her as little more than a political pawn. Conor had admired her for it, had felt his own heart swell with pride and love as she stood her ground. But it came at a cost. The King’s support, thin as it had been, was now crumbling, and Conor knew that King Ryu Pinion wasn’t a man who accepted defiance lightly.

The door behind him creaked open, and Faolan, Kerrigan’s wolf, padded silently